The Rise of the Ubersexual Man

As fashionable as the metrosexual man may be, over the last few years, he’s been replaced by a new breed of fashionable men. So it’s probably time for the metrosexual man to step aside and make way for the new King. So who’s up on the front row of today’s fashion in the last couple of years? The super cool Ubersexual Man. What’s so great about this man? Find out here.

The runways were full of velvet waistcoats, skinny fit jeans and detailed shirts. Scarves, belts and jewelry were all the rage. Fabrics were decidedly opulent. Men’s clothes no longer meant only cotton, wool and corduroy. It included linen, silk, satin, velvet and whatever else.

Formerly ‘female’ colors like pink, mauve and lime green joined the dismally small male brigade of navy blue, black and brown. Suddenly men knew all about Louis Vuitton’s new man-friendly messenger bags as much as their girlfriends and could tell the difference between vermillion and crimson.

The autumn-winter collections 04/05 cemented the metrosexual trend. Armani’s collection was about “the man who dared to show tenderness”. Calvin Klein took to punk rock and went short leather jackets on long indie knits.

The ever elegant Hermes flit between dandy and casual chic with checkered jackets and cardigans in purple chocolate and forest green. Yves Saint Laurent modernized the notoriously decadent French aristocracy with flared three piece suits while Versace went contemporary with wide striped eighties-esque pin-striped suits and loud multicolored prints as did Ralph Lauren.

The color pink transcending gender was a landmark occasion for the metrosexual man and for fashion in general. Pink, a color traditionally associated with sugar and spice and everything girly is now worn by any fashion conscious young man.

The baby pink shirt has now in fact become a wardrobe staple of sorts. Mauve shirts, hot pink ties, and baby pink tee shirts can be seen anywhere you look. As of 2005, the tough guy look was over.

But as with everything else, this new man trend too bit the dust and Metrosexuality became passé.

Ubersexuality became the latest trend to hit runways and the streets. The word ‘ubersexual’ is derived from the German word ‘uber’ meaning the greatest or most superior. So ubersexuals are the most good looking, most interesting and most articulate of their generation. The ubersexual is attractive and stylish but undoubtedly masculine.

He is well read and cultured, he is passionate but not self obsessed. The focal point of this trend being the embracing of traditional masculinity without all the negative aspects associated with it. Therefore, the ubersexual man is willing to follow trends but he’s not a slave to fashion. He will work out but not obsess over the size of his pecs.

The ubersexual oozes confidence, leadership and sensuality, a heady combination. The ubersexual will not take his cues from the mass but will make his own rules. The ubersexual style is more personal, evolving from travels and personal experience but most importantly is not effeminate at all. He is a man’s man, dressing for himself and not to impress anyone else. The ubersexual trend is manifested by the likes of George Clooney and U2 front man, Bono.

The autumn-winter collection of 07/08 adopts a mature, masculine look with focus on traditional classics. The timeless blue blazer and fabrics such as grey flannel bring out the essential masculinity that is the chief characteristic of ubersexuality. Marc Jacobs subtly combined old world luxury with new world quality with checked breeches and alpine jackets paired with hiking boots. Valentino channelled Wall Street with a plain color scheme of charcoal, white and beige in the finest of fabrics.

Armani went old school glamour with blue velvet and buckled belted leather. The ubersexual is a man who requires comfortable clothes that look good and feel good, but still serve their purpose. The ubersexual is passionate about global issues like pollution and global warming and hence will wear only organic and natural fabric, a trend reflected by Jil Sanders.

Is ubersexuality going to be a weathering trend? A better question would be ‘what’s next?’ Just as we saw the fall of the metrosexual era, ubersexuality too will come to pass. How soon? That’s anyone’s guess.

But, ubersexuality, with its combination of extreme masculinity and metrosexuality, with a good measure of social awareness thrown in, is a good recipe for the ideal man.